Expand: More welfare-to-work programs needed, as is improved public transit

Guam has some programs that help people on government assistance learn the skills they need to get good-paying jobs, but if we want to reduce the number of people on welfare, much more still must be done.

Project HATSA is a federally funded program aimed at getting women off the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare program. A collaboration between Public Health, Guam Community College and the Agency for Human Resources Development, it began in January and teaches basic construction skills.

These kinds of opportunities are valuable, teaching needed skills to help people find work.

So far there have been two cycles, with two more planned. Four of the 23 participants who graduated in September found jobs, while the others are looking for work or serving in internships.

The program also has shown that the stereotype of those on welfare programs -- that they're lazy and don't want to work, doesn't hold true for everyone. There is a real desire by many on welfare to improve their employability and find work. When the program was accepting applications in December, there were 100 applications for just 17 spots.

This highlights the need for the government to try to find more ways to help people transition from welfare to work. There should be opportunities for those who only qualify for minimum-wage, menial work to get the training, education and skills they need to find better employment. The more people we can help in this way, the fewer on welfare programs.

One major roadblock for many, however, is the lack of reliable and consistent public transportation. It's difficult for those who can't afford their own vehicle to find work, unless it's in their immediate area, because of the shortfall in the mass transit system. You can't hold down a job if you can't get there on time because a bus is late or doesn't show up at all. And you can't hold down a job with night hours because buses stop running in the early evening.

Elected officials have continued to ignore the island's mass transit problems. This must change if we want to help more economically disadvantaged find work and get off of welfare programs.